Fingerprint Theft Using a 'Regular Digital Camera'

A hacker named 'Jan Kreissler' claims to have discovered a method to copy people's fingerprints using a 'regular digital camera.' According to the website 'CNET,' Kreissler is a member of the oldest European hacker group known as the 'Chaos Computer Club.' This professional hacker asserted that he was able to copy the fingerprint of 'Ursula von der Leyen,' the German Federal Minister of Defense, using a digital camera and commercially available software. Kreissler stated that the software used in this fingerprint extraction method is called 'Verifinger,' which is used for fingerprint recognition and is available in global markets. Kreissler mentioned that the extraction of the German Defense Minister's fingerprint occurred during a speech she gave in October, with the photographer taking the photo from less than three meters away. However, this European hacker said he could not definitively state that the pattern obtained from von der Leyen's fingerprint was accurate and usable. Kreissler also emphasized that he personally believes the copied fingerprint obtained through this method 'works,' explaining: 'I tested the same method under similar conditions (the same camera, the same distance) on my own finger.' The office of 'Ursula von der Leyen' rejected CNET's request for a response to Kreissler's claims. A representative of the German Defense Minister stated that von der Leyen was unaware of Kreissler's claims and the demonstration of how the fingerprint was taken with a camera. Kreissler's invention, however, has called into question the effectiveness of security scanners. The use of fingerprints for user identification has been introduced in some technology products since the 1990s. Recently, Apple included fingerprint recognition capabilities in the new generation of iPhones, the '5S' model, once again bringing the use of unique features and physical characteristics of users for identity verification to the forefront. Following Apple, companies like Samsung and HTC also offered this feature in some of their models. The new method had the advantage that the user could log into the system simply by touching the screen or the desired button instead of entering a password. Now, 'Frank Rieger,' a spokesperson for the 'Chaos Computer Club,' describes this authentication method as 'stupid': 'It's very stupid to use something that you can't change and have to use as a security code everywhere every day.' According to the 'Daily Mail,' in September 2013, hackers from the 'Chaos Computer Club' used 'fingerprints left on a glass surface' and scanned it to create a file that allowed them to reconstruct their target's fingerprint. Initially, they transferred the mentioned file to a laser printer and placed a special colorless sheet instead of white paper in the printer. The mark created by the printer's toner on the transparent sheet effectively served as a fingerprint mold; they only needed to place a small amount of 'wood glue' or 'a thin sheet of latex' over the printed design and press the resulting imprint onto the fingerprint scanner of the iPhone to unlock Apple's new security lock. Nevertheless, Apple announced during the introduction of the new iPhone that this product is equipped with a type of fingerprint sensor that 'has a much higher level of security than previous similar technologies.' In contrast, the 'Chaos Computer Club' insisted on its position, stating that 'as we have said before and repeated many times over the past two years, fingerprints should not be used to secure any system.' 'Jan Kreissler,' who appears to be the first to successfully steal individuals' fingerprints, said: 'After this, politicians will wear gloves during public speeches.'